Of course, as an old man who had taken refuge with Crown Prince Tonghai, Palace Ambassador Chen Pipi was not as strong and stubborn as he described. At least enough information was given to interest Jiang Tian before he passed out for the fifth time, sweating profusely and incontinent.
For example, the crown prince has been in constant contact with some high-level officials in the Donghai Grand Shrine since early on; he even attracted them as foreign aid and help in his early years; he eliminated dissidents in the office. Even in the past few years, they began to use Donghai Society's channels and information to bypass the imperial court's restrictions on sects and vassals.
Therefore, they could not wait to eliminate the obstruction of Mrs. Ronghua Shen, who had voting rights in the Supreme Council, and arrange other puppets to replace her. For another example, the crown prince's army on the island to wipe out the barbarians in the central mountain range actually had an ulterior purpose.
Because most of the captured island barbarians were taken away by his men and never appeared again. The large-scale construction projects are just a pretense, and most of them are just fake; but only a few secret camps and strongholds are actually built, far away from human habitations. Only making money is real.
However, most of the money collected was not in the office's inventory, but was used in unknown places. These changes gradually began to take place a few years ago after Prince Tonghai secretly left the island for a trip to the southeast coast under an unknown invitation.
That is to say, after this trip, the prince, who had suffered from a serious illness and had been in poor health for a long time, also got rid of the troubles of the illness; and after the change of the celestial sphere, it reached an intensified level. Many officials and ministers who privately expressed doubts and dissatisfaction also had accidents or were criticized one after another.
In the end, the princess, who had been happy to see the results for a long time but had always let go, also felt that something was wrong after being advised by the separation family, and summoned him privately to question him. The result is still the result of a loving father and a filial son, and a harmonious relationship. However, the princess fell ill a month later and gradually became dementia and slow.
Even if famous doctors from inside and outside the island were recruited to take turns to examine him, they could only conclude that it was wind paralysis in the body that entered the brain and caused a stroke; and the prince could no longer be effectively restrained and restricted. But as a minister who has been serving the government for many years, Chen Pipi is one of the very few insiders.
Because it was he who had been entrusted by someone to let the enchanting beauty, who was donated by an overseas businessman and whose body was as flexible as a coiled snake, manage to appear in front of the princess. Then, not surprisingly, he was summoned in private and given exclusive favor for several days; the princess found that her glory was no longer the same.
Then, after seeking medical treatment from both inside and outside, it was no surprise that it became a romantic anecdote related to the office. Then suddenly one day, after taking too many different kinds of tiger and wolf medicines that were not replenishing the deficiency, it was inevitable that internal dryness would build up and he would suddenly bleed from the mouth and nose and fall into coma; he would collapse in bed.
Regardless of whether it is a medical officer maintained by the official office or a famous doctor invited from other places, when seeing a doctor, he must be careful to keep it secret, and in the end he can only conclude that it is the result of rheumatic paralysis and deal with the problem. But Jiang Tian still discovered important and critical details in Chen Pipi's unconscious confession.
For example, as an old man who has been exposed to the private affairs of the office for a long time, he accidentally learned that the prince also had several allies with sufficient power and status outside of Yizhou Island. They often took advantage of the coastal vassalage to shelter and shelter some people and groups who had fled from the mainland for a long time.
Or it provides identity cover and transit anchorage for some fleets of unknown origin; it even provides corresponding shelters and settlements on coastal islands, regularly extracting huge profits from them. Therefore, when communicating secretly, they only use special nicknames to call each other.
For example, as a personal memory of Prince Tonghai, there is a sea dragon with a ball-like body in the waves; there is also the word "Tiangang" in small seal script about the size of a grain of rice. At this moment, Jiang Tian suddenly understood; as the saying goes, it is an unexpected joy that can be obtained without any effort.
This powerful Crown Prince Tonghai is also the man behind the scenes that Jiang Tian has been pursuing. Under the name of "Wutian", a secret society suspected of subverting the imperial court, he is one of the twelve celestial beings, Tiangang Chenlong; he is also a logistician in a sense. Providers of support and resources, shelters and staging areas.
But at what cost can a vassal heir who has always had smooth sailing, inherits the family business step by step, and enjoys power and wealth, be able to take power in advance at the expense of being infamous and suspected, and actively participate in infiltrating and subverting the imperial court? In a long-term conspiracy.
After Jiang Tian thought about it, he was left with the only choice and the truth; for a young man who had been seriously ill and was still weak, he probably only had the health and longevity he dreamed of. Of course, this extraordinary approach to health may not come without a price.
In this way, whether it is the Donghai Grand Shrine, the Beast Worship Cult or the Wutian Organization, almost all the threads are aligned. Perhaps, somewhere on this large island of Yizhou, in a deserted place that is inaccessible or where barbarians are active, there are secret places and experimental areas related to beasts and ghosts.
The only remaining question is why he took the risk of being leaked and pretended to be a kidnapper of the Jingzhao Shen family’s daughter. Considering the horrific human experiments that happened to Shen Yizhi, could it be because of the Jingzhao Shen family? Is it because the bloodline is special/pure?
Just as he was thinking about it, he saw the twin maids with complicated expressions walking over timidly. After being glanced at by Jiang Tian, he shrank back behind the pillar in fear. Then he stuck out his head and whispered softly. He reported: "Husband... Madam... please tell me."
"Okay!" Jiang Tian nodded and asked strangely: "Why do you have to hide so far away to talk? I'm not a tiger that can eat people." However, Cuixing, who had just witnessed the tragic scene, showed an indescribable bleak smile and said : "Yes..., I will lead the way for you, sir."
A moment later, Jiang Tian saw Mrs. Rong Hua, Shen, in a flower pavilion. He saw that she had put on a brocade skirt with a pair of birds on a red bottom and a silk shawl with green branches and beads; she looked even more dignified. Gorgeous. However, she was staring at the blooming camellias and did not move for a long time.
It wasn't until the sound of Jiang Tian's footsteps that she turned around as if waking up from a dream; but the emotions in her eyes were overturned, as if she was brewing something, and she hesitated to speak: "Excuse me, sir, what did you say about Lanxi County back then?" The child who was sent away is now under the protection of the imperial court?"
"Of course not, I just happen to be entrusted by this old friend of yours. If I have the opportunity, I just want to ask Madam." Jiang Tian shook his head lightly and said: "Do you still remember that when we last met, Mei At the head of the bridge, under the tea pavilion, is that a bowl of patchouli tea soup?"
"You...he...how can I not remember this after so many years?" Shen was shocked when she heard this. She stared at Jiang Tian's mask in disbelief, her eyes blank as if she wanted to see some clues. : "Because I regret it, and I don't think about it day and night."
"In this case, there is actually another reply:" Jiang Tian said in the same understatement: "If you really regret what happened back then, then he can let go of the past and let time slowly forgive you; but still Please, from now on, we will have nothing to do with each other..."
"Lang Lang..." At this moment, Mrs. Shen did not hide her sorrow and burst into tears. She was not at all like the graceful, quiet, graceful and beautiful Mrs. Rong Hua before; she was as weak as after being cut off from kindness. , just a helpless little woman. "So, is he okay?"
"How could it be okay?" Jiang Tian shook his head again and said: "In the early years, he didn't want to have anything to do with the past, so he could only hang out in the streets of Chang'an, living next to the most humble of the three religions and nine streams, relying on people to get information. He made a living by copying books, and he also moved many times due to difficulties in making a living."
"How...how...this could happen!" However, Mrs. Shen couldn't believe it, and then she slumped down on the railing with tears streaming down her face: "It turns out that they have been deceiving me for so many years. It's ridiculous that I have been Didn’t you see through it and were you just wishfully thinking that we would meet again?”
Jiang Tian walked out of the flower pavilion silently. After waiting for a while, he saw Mrs. Shen with red and swollen eyes. She straightened her makeup and walked out. She saluted Jiang Tian solemnly and said: " Thank you sir for bringing this news, there will be no chance of compensation and recovery."
Jiang Tian couldn't help but shook his head again, and wanted to continue to say something to her; when he saw a minister in blue shirt hurried over, he saluted and reported to Shen who had regained his energy and dignity. After a few words, Mrs. Shen sighed to Jiang Tian again:
"The situation in the city is still not good. Although I have controlled the situation in the palace because of my husband, the various people who were ordered to arrest the traitorous gang members still encountered a lot of resistance and obstruction. Some people must have escaped. Go out of the city and report to that traitor."
"Next, the three managers and four leaders of the outer dynasty will inevitably request to enter the palace to see the Lord; but with the Lord's appearance, I am afraid it will be difficult for him to issue orders normally, and it will be even more difficult for him to use this as an excuse to persuade the ministers and officials in the palace. Foreign vassals, stand on my side and jointly attack that traitor."
"My death can be postponed for a few days, but it cannot be delayed for too long; once the treacherous son uses his title and expediency to summon unsuspecting ministers, vassals, and even state and county garrison troops in the local area, I’m afraid it will be difficult for me to resist this unsettled Tianxing City alone.”
"Even if we have the master in our hands and think of it as a call, we will inevitably make the subjects and people on the island flow into rivers of blood, and the death and injury will benefit many people."
"So, what is Madam's plan?" Jiang Tian asked in an interested tone: "Should we temporarily avoid the attack and make another attempt, or should we introduce external intervention?"
"Yes, I will try my best to collect the palace money and reliable manpower, and sail down to Pushan Port on the seaside within a day or two." Shen said with a determined expression: "Since it is difficult to do anything on Yizhou Island, I will take my master to the vassal court in Beijing and file a complaint."
"I have thought clearly. Even if I report my family's ugliness and have the imperial court send troops to intervene in the civil strife in the vassal's residence, and then accept various punishments such as ceding land and demoting the nobility in the future, it is still better than having the traitor's activities exposed and becoming a member of the vassal. He is the target of public criticism; he is despised by his subordinates and ends up in ruin."
"If things really don't work out and we can only live in the capital, we can also use my savings to find the child to make up for it." However, Mrs. Shen gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said, "It's just that I have to worry about it along the way. Sir, I helped you and introduced and proved my concubine at the vassal court."
"Actually, it may not be so troublesome." Hearing this, Jiang Tian also said with some feeling: "Didn't I say before that one person alone is worth as much as one army of the imperial court. What's more, the confidence and credentials I have are far more than what's in front of me!"
The next moment, Jiang Tian slowly took off his white mask with teary eyes and a smile, revealing a face that was both familiar and very unfamiliar to Mrs. Ronghua Shen. What seems similar is this face, which can be seen in the self-portrait in the ancestral hall; what is strange is an unfathomable demeanor.
At this moment, she couldn't help but her legs and feet became weak, and she fell to the ground; and she stared in disbelief and said: "You treacherous child! How could...how could..." "No, you are not that treacherous child, Who are you?" "Wait! Could it be that you can become that traitor?"
"You are wrong, this is actually who I am." Facing her incomprehensible shock, Jiang Tian gently shook his head and said, "Otherwise, why would I always bring this thing with me when I come to the island? It's just for Just reduce some unnecessary troubles and troubles when doing daily things..."
(End of chapter)
